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Filed under: LA Auto Show, Budget, Sedan, Hatchback, Ford

The Ford Fiesta has proven to be a very successful small car wherever it’s sold in the world. Ford has sold 12 million Fiestas over the vehicle’s lifetime and the new-for-2009 model has moved half a million units already this year in Europe and Asia. It’s a smash hit in spite of the fact that the Fiesta is not for sale in the U.S., a.k.a. the world’s biggest car market. That all changes in the spring of 2010 as the Fiesta finally makes its way stateside.

Ford appears to be focusing its efforts in the U.S. small car market at exactly the right time, as consideration for B-Segment vehicles is at an all-time high and the trend appears to be upwardly mobile. And while Ford would love for us to believe that it was clairvoyant when deciding to bring the Fiesta to the U.S., it just isn’t true. In fact, the Fiesta wasn’t originally designed for the U.S. market, but the shock of $4 per gallon gas and a new-found interest in eco-friendly transportation led the Blue Oval to rethink its strategy. Ford didn’t start readying the Fiesta for the U.S. market until many bits and bolts of hardware were already settled, so Team Blue had to go back to the drawing board to make its small car ready for Americans. The result is a U.S.-spec Fiesta that has only 60% of its parts in common with the Euro Fiesta. Will Americans be missing out? Follow the jump for everything you need to know about the Fiesta.

Continue reading LA Preview: 2011 Ford Fiesta for America revealed, hits 40 mpg

LA Preview: 2011 Ford Fiesta for America revealed, hits 40 mpg originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One of the first gardening books I had as a kid was some monster Q&A book of gardening from about the 1940s. I didn’t read the whole book as a kid, but kept it. Later I went back to it when I had my first garden and the soil section wasn’t all that helpful. In fact, one of the questions was, “What kind of soil is most adaptable for general gardening?” And the answer, “Any well-conditioned soil that would grow a crop of corn.”

Um? This advice is all good and fine if you know how to grow corn. Since I was a new gardener I had no flipping clue what sort of soil might grow a decent crop of corn, and frankly found the answer a little odd. Time barrier maybe? In any case, eventually I got much better gardening books and got help from other gardeners and figured out the soil issue.

If you’re thinking you have soil problems, you’ll be glad to know that you don’t have to plant a bumper crop of corn to figure it out. A lot of soil problems usually aren’t too complicated to fix. With that in mind let’s take a look back at some soil tips and ideas…

• You can often diagnose a soil problem with specific plant problems. For example yellowing of old leaves that then brown and die is one sign that your soil is lacking the proper nitrogen. See more plant issues that crop up when your soil is nutrient deficient.
• For an in-depth look at creating the best overall garden soil from the start read, 8 Steps for How to Make Better Garden Soil.
• Slow draining soil is one problem where I live (lots of rain) and plant roots slow draining soil. Water takes up too much space, won’t allow air to circulate and your plant roots will have limited room to grow. Learn to fix slow draining soil problems.
• On the flip side, if your soil doesn’t retain enough moisture you can fix this problem with proper mulching.
• You can stop soil issues before they start by protecting your soil during the winter with cover crops.

[image via stock.xchng]

Post from: Blisstree

Fixing soil problems

Two separate initiatives by cable companies are coming together in conflict. We’ve seen how many cable companies are trying to set up video portals that will let subscribers to cable TV get access to the same content online, as a weak attempt to reduce churn of consumers dumping cable altogether and concentrating on online options. But, at the same time, they’re also looking to implement broadband caps with high overage fees. Those two concepts are shown together with Rogers offering both a video portal and low metered caps with high overage fees. So your incentive is to not use the video portal (which apparently is limited in the first place). How is that going to reduce the churn? It seems like a far better option is to just go with another provider that actually focuses on adding value rather than limiting it. Too bad there’s so little competition up in Canada. Ahhh… that explains things, now, doesn’t it?

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My 5 lb dog has luxating patellas and is now having trouble with her front legs, as well. They seem to “lock up” on her and she doesn’t want to move. She is only 4 and I am considering the surgery, but would like to know if there is some supplemental therapy that might help. DM, Georgia

Dear DM,

Luxating patellas are not an uncommon problem for small and miniature breeds such as miniature and toy Poodles, Maltese, Jack Russell Terriers, Yorkshire Terriers, Pomeranians, Pekingese, Chihuahuas, Boston Terriers and others. It occurs when the patella, also known as the knee cap, dislocates or moves out of its normal position at the front of the stifle joint. This is usually due a defect in hindlimb conformation and is believed to have a congenital or hereditary component.

You mention that your dog “locks up,” which is another way of saying that one or both of her legs becomes fixed in an extended position. Other signs include an intermittent or on-again off again-rear lameness and an unusual skipping or hopping gait in the rear end. Sometimes the condition doesn’t appear until the dog is playing and suddenly pops the patella out of place, causing a cry or yelp and immediate pain and limping. Many times a dog that is in pain and unable to move pops the patella back into place on its own and is instantly able to run again with no discomfort.

Veterinarians diagnose luxating patellas by the owner’s history, by palpating the joint, and by X-rays. Based on how easily they are able to move the patella in and out of the correct location, veterinarians give luxating patellas a Grade I (mild, surgery not recommended) to Grade IV (severe, surgery recommended) scale. Because most cases get worse over time, and because arthritis of the stifle joint develops from the instability caused by this condition, surgery should be performed as soon as the problem is diagnosed, if your dog is a candidate.

Carefully follow your veterinarian’s aftercare instructions as the rehabilitation from the surgery is just as important as the surgery itself in determining your dog’s soundness and quality of life. Bandaging, cage rest, passive range of motion exercises, controlled leash walks, and even swimming may be recommended. Ramps or steps may be helpful both before and after surgery to limit strain on the joint and surrounding tissues. Medications to reduce pain and swelling may also be prescribed.

However, I recommend that you start your dog on a joint supplement that includes ingredients like glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, HA and MSM; herbs like Boswellia and Bromelain; and omega 3 fatty acids even before the surgery. Hopefully this will help manage discomfort and inflammation and possibly even protect the cartilage from further damage until the joint is stabilized.

Drum washing plants are particularly suitable for the continuous and at random treatment of small and medium-sized pieces, such as screws, bolts and small metal pieces in general. The material is moved forward by the slow rotation (at variable speed) of a cylinder, which contains a spiral at preset pitch. During the advancement motion, parts undergo cycles of treatment. Spiral continuous and slow rotation allows the movement of the pieces and the consequent removal of grease or swarf and drying them perfectly. The loading operations can be either manual or automated through automatic loading devices.
Ceever realization of standard machines is put side by side with the production of special cochlea realized in base to the specific demands of the client, both as regards the cycles of treatment (phosphating, de-phosphating, phosphate-degreasing, etc.) and mechanical sizing and/or special applications for automation.

For those of you who missed the leaked trailer of Rockstar’s upcoming wild west epic shooter Red Dead Redemption (PS3, Xbox 360) that we posted last w…

While people tend to go all out in their living room holiday decorating efforts, the bathroom usually gets little or no attention. After all, a half bath is small enough that it can be a struggle to fit the essentials. A tree? Unless you’ve got a bathroom the size of most people’s bedrooms, it is not happening. However, with a bit of ingenuity and some outside the box thinking, you can decorate the bathroom for the holidays.

• Stereotypical touches like holiday towels and soaps might be a bit stale, but they still work to make the room a bit more festive.
• A standard white shower curtain can be transformed with paint and holiday stencils. HGTV has instructions for painting a white shower curtain that you can adapt.
• Dress up the edges of the bathroom mirror or the outside of glass shower doors with spray on snow and stencils.
• Squeeze in a swag above the vanity mirror or above the bathroom door.
• Swap out the floor rug with a rug with a holiday design on it. (Don’t forget to put a skid proof mat underneath if the rug doesn’t have a built in skid proof backing.

Do you decorate your bathroom for the holidays?

Photo: SXC

Post from: Blisstree

Christmas Home Decor for the Bathroom

Richard Bernstein is one of the few folks willing to stick their necks out and be pessimistic on gold. He said it’s left the fundamental arena, and entered the speculative one, citing the fact that people are paying huge premiums for gold coins.

In terms of what he likes, he says get ready for a small-cap rally starting in December.

Join the conversation about this story »

See Also:

• Rosenberg: Gold Going To $2600 Thanks To China
• Gold Soars To Within An Inch Of $1200
• John Paulson Hoarding More Gold Than Several Countries Combined

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Sedan, Infiniti, Luxury

Take a look over Infiniti’s current line-up and two vehicles stand out: The M and the QX. Both vehicles have been soldiering on while the brand’s volume models (G and FX) have undergone major redesigns, leaving Infiniti’s flagship sedan and hulking SUV toiling away unchanged since 2003 and 2004, respectively.

Tonight, that changes.

We’ll probably see a mildly tweaked G in So. Cal. while covering the LA Auto Show (an updated QX full-size SUV won’t appear until later), but the star of the party is the 2011 Infiniti M. Due to go on sale next spring, the M will be available with two powerplants — Infiniti’s ubiquitous 3.7-liter V6 and a new 5.6-liter V8 — each available with rear- or all-wheel drive and both packing enough electronic gizmos to make even the most hardened NASA engineer’s head spin.

UPDATE: A hybrid version of the M will debut sometime in the middle of 2010. A live image gallery of the M56 has been added below, along with more high-res pics of both the Sport and Touring models. Also, scope out the sexiest door handles you’ll see this week here.

Continue reading 2011 Infiniti M wraps tons of tech in an attractive wrapper, hybrid coming in mid-2010

2011 Infiniti M wraps tons of tech in an attractive wrapper, hybrid coming in mid-2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Facebook is about to begin a major overhaul of its privacy structure, the company said in an announcement posted on the service Tuesday night.

The firm said it will be eliminating the familiar regional networks that often govern which users can and can't see content posted on the site.  Instead, the new model will be simpler, allowing users to grant permission to browse personal photos and entries based on three tiers — friends, friends of your friends, or everyone.

Facebook, which initially grew out of groups defined by college boundaries, has long outgrown that model, the firm said.

"Some of these regional networks now have millions of members and we've concluded that this is no longer the best way for you to control your privacy," said Facebook's founder Mark Zuckerberg in a post published Tuesday evening. "Almost 50 percent of all Facebook users are members of regional networks, so this is an important issue for us. If we can build a better system, then more than 100 million people will have even more control of their information."

Zuckerberg said the firm will also be adding more precise tools for controlling privacy settings. Rather than depending exclusively on generic settings, users will be able to set privacy restrictions on individuals photos and posts.

The firm will remind users to check their privacy settings to make sure there are no unintended consequences from the change. The biggest concern would be the removal of restrictions on some content that might make it available to users who until this point could not see it — such as photos of college friends suddenly becoming visible to work colleagues.

"We've worked hard to build controls that we think will be better for you, but we also understand that everyone's needs are different. We'll suggest settings for you based on your current level of privacy, but the best way for you to find the right settings is to read through all your options and customize them for yourself," Zuckerberg wrote.

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Mirza and I were sitting around watching Jay Leno when to our surprise we learned that Bill Maher would be on. We both cheered like it was Christmas because he rocks. AND THEN, as they announced him, they said he would be performing December 3rd at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts center!! aaaah, if I didn’t jump out of my seat fast enough and grab my purse to buy tickets online, omg!

We’re soooo excited!! He’ll be here on Thursdays, which works out great because I need to stay up extra late, so I can sleep during Friday to get ready for my first night shift.

Any Bill Maher fans out there? Any Religulous fans who read this blog? C’mon!

Papaya can cause an allergic reaction in people with a latex allergy. People who are allergic to latex may be allergic to some fruits like papaya as well as avocados, tomatoes, melons, bananas, figs, grapes, and several other fruits.

Raw papaya causes a stronger allergic reaction than cooked papaya. Handling raw papaya may cause a skin reaction.

Since unripe papaya is often used as a meat tenderizer, sensitive people may have an allergic reaction after eating undercooked meat that has been tenderized in this way.

One interesting note: the ethylene gas used in processing conventional papaya makes it more allergenic, so organic papaya may cause less of a reaction than conventional papaya.

It’s great what we teach our kids these days. Some students at Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, Illinois, put together their student paper, but the administration apparently freaked out because there were articles about drinking, smoking and teen pregnancy (you know, stuff that’s actually relevant to students). So they blocked the publication of the paper and gave the students two hours to write new stories or receive failing grades (found via Poynter). Nice of them, right? The administration claims they just delayed the paper “to provide more time for editing and layout,” though that’s quite a different story than what the students are saying. We keep seeing stories like this, and at some point you have to wonder why more student publications don’t just set up shop online, totally outside of the school district, and just publish what they want?

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AIDS is anything but past – it’s a disease that is affecting millions of people around the world. But, because there are now antiretroviral medications that can help people with  HIV and AIDS live longer, there’s a mistaken impression that the disease can now be treated.

Research is being done all over the world to find better medications to help improve the lives of those with HIV or AIDS, if not cure it. However, the latest research has found that one medication is better than another in a specific group of people with HIV – ones with high viral loads. A viral load is how much HIV is in your body. The lower the viral load, the better the chances of staying healthy. Viral failure is what happens when the antiretroviral drugs can no longer suppress the virus.

In the research reported today, doctors reported that people with HIV who had high viral loads and who began treatment with a medication called Epzicom (a combination of abacavir and lamivudine), did not do as well as those who began with a medication called Truvada (a combination of tenofovir DF and emtricitabine). The findings were so significant, that the study was stopped two years before it was scheduled to finish. When a study shows a clearly better progression rate of one medication over another, it isn’t ethical to continue it.

“The patients in the study all did quite well. But for those starting with high viral loads, there was a highly significant difference in outcomes that favored those given Truvada compared to Epzicom,” said Dr. [Eric] Daar [a principal investigator at Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center (LA BioMed)]. “As we mark Worlds AIDS Day this year, we can celebrate the fact that there are many effective therapeutic options for the treatment of HIV-infected individuals and much ongoing research, like this study, to further refine and optimize the management of this disease.”

Although the study was discontinued in this group of patients, researchers are continuing to look at the medications in patients with lower viral loads. The results of the study were published in the most recent issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

~~~

Image:  PhotoXpress.com

Post from: Blisstree

Antiviral News on World AIDS Day